Im doing my 103 this coming week, just wondering if anyone knows some of the weak areas and if there is something stage pilots really like to hit on. I know I need to know the commercial and instrument PTS which I have looked over and studied many times. Anything helps
What you should do is look at each POH for the STEC limitations and the KFC 150 limitations.
There are subtle differences. Also, the STEC isn't certified for SE ops. I believe the static ports in rear of the seminole are for the autopilot, or the transponder.
Go look in a plane's individual POH or go talk to maintenance. They're usually pretty good.
is it just me or does anyone else feel way more comfortable simply DISENGAGING the autopilot once they identify an engine failure??
it just made me really uneasy having an abnormal situation like that and the autopilot just going on and driving me to whatever fate it decides....
AP in that situation really made me feel like i was "along for the ride".
anyone else get that feeling?
Nope.
All advanced training in your future has you turn the autopilot on at minimum altitude for engagement in a single engine situation.
I always have turned the autopilot off when doing single engine stuff.
How did your flights go, what things did you do. I noticed int PTS doesnt say anything about a Config demo, do you actually do this?
If you have an engine fire in flight, I know you run through the checklist then they are expecting you to enter an emergency descent. I completely disagree with doing this because I feel like the increased airflow will just fuel the fire. I also have concerns about fire conatcting the rear portions of the plane. Realistically thinking, wouldnt you just want to enter a slip away from the dead engine to keep the fire away from the cabin?
typically, you will just shut down the engine after the engine fire, then restart it again without doing the emergency descent at that time. If the stage pilot wants to do that, then yes he will probably come back behind you and undo everything you do. but again, he probably won't do that...be prepared for anything though!!
What is the minimum recovery altitude for an emergency descent? Can't find it in the standardization manual.
What is the minimum recovery altitude for an emergency descent? Can't find it in the standardization manual.
I remember recovering at about 1500 MSL, the ground was about 1000 feet so I guess you need to recover by 500 AGL. Although recover a little earlier for buffer, it also helps make it a little hazier if you were gonna hit your intended landing spot or not. I would recover before the minimum altitude unless your stage pilot wants you to go all the way down.
Btw make sure there isn't a airport nearby when you do your emergency descent, most of the ones I've had to do were all the way down to the runway. It all depends on what your stage pilot wants.
Edit- Scratch that, I was thinking about simulated engine failures. Policies and Procedures say that MRA is 3000 AGL for most maneuvers. Not sure about the emergency decent. Last time I did it we went from the emergency decent down to the pivotal altitude to do the Eights on Pylons.